I just finished putting up an embroidery stitch guide which can be accessed for quick reference to assist anyone learning the basics.

Great idea and about time! My PatternBee vintage embroidery biz started out as a side-hobby in 1998, and grew to include a website three years ago, so I guess a stitch guide is way over-due. I'm happy it's up there now--where it should be, instead of pointing to other sources when asked.

I think just about every pattern on the site can be done using the six basic stitches. There are hundreds of embroidery stitches though, and if you're up for learning more, check out this excellent book, and this one. Here's another interesting book for inspiration.

My young granddaughter recently graduated to a "big girl bed" so I made her a new comforter to match the other bedroom accessories she has; part of the (2006) "shabby chic" collection from Target.

She loved it!

I was really quite happy to discover that a pair of the long curtain panels were the perfect size for this project and was able to use them "as-is", just adding eyelot lace around the edges.

Another quick tip: Instead of using ties to hold the quilt layers together, I used the circle button-hole feature on my sewing machine, spacing the circles about ten inches apart. Basting pins work well to hold everything together; mark the tie-off points with a washable fabric marker. And there you have it.

I practically live in my gardening smocks during the summer. They are comfy and easy-care, but not always the most attractive. That's when embellishments like covered buttons come in handy. I like to trim the sleeves with fabric scraps too.

Goodness. Babies have been born, books have been published, there are new blogs + fab indie-shops to peruse, plus new magazines to support it all. Very exciting, I say. *Congratulations* all around! (You peeps know who you are.)

I also find that a few of my favorite blogs have retired or left the scene. I'm REALLY going to miss them, but do understand their reasons.

I wrestle with blogging myself. Sigh. There is only so much time for fun and games.

My summer blog break helped bring a little perspective.

Conclusion: Grandma was right: ALL things in moderation.

Yesterday: scenes from our morning stroll to the top of the mountain. The vista at the crest overlooking the Willamette Valley was breathtaking (still panting) in more ways than one. The lovely red foliage all along the trail is poison oak. It's always the first thing to change color, reminding me, that fall is right around the corner.

More sweet cupcake morsels, the lastest mini-treats to come out of the dollhouse bakery.

These are so cute. Grace only had time to make a few, but I am sure she would be happy to take orders, for as long as her supply lasts. Visit her etsy shop HERE.

REAL baking also happened!

Both girls participated in a cake baking contest (last month) for the annual company picnic. Ginger decorated a small sponge cake with paper butterflies and edible candied flowers she made with egg-whites and ultra-fine sugar. It was her first time using an icing bag--I think she did pretty good with it.

Grace made a vanilla ring cake, also with edible fresh flowers. We had some humidity issues that day, but both cakes held up--much to our relief. These cakes were as delicious as they were beautiful.